6 Questions with James Welford

1. How did you get started with Rec Sports and what led you to becoming the director of philanthropy?

“Well, it all started back in 1971 when I was a freshman at the University of Southern Mississippi. I became heavily involved with Intramurals while supporting myself through college, and I needed to make a little money. Back then, Intramural officials were paid $4 an hour! That was big money at that time, so I would work three games a night and this would help me pay the bills. The first year I was a sports official, and then, as a sophomore I was assigned to train the new officials. Once I graduated, I went back for my masters and did the same thing—worked in Intramurals. My director was Lou Marciani, who became the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) president and knew Dennis Corrington. At the time I met Dennis, I was teaching at a local high school. The next thing I knew, I was offered the opportunity to come to Aggieland and be a part of Rec Sports at Texas A&M. I arrived in College Station with a new wife and job in 1977. I was thrilled. I originally came to Rec Sports to only train Intramural officials. Back then we had about 600-700 flag football teams, and large numbers of basketball and softball teams, so the program needed many officials which required a lot of training. Another aspect of my early years with Rec Sports involved creating the training program for softball officiating through NIRSA. It was a lot of fun back in the day as a young professional. In ’79 I was promoted to associate director, so I had to change my focus toward the sport clubs program. Since then, I’ve done just about everything from facilities to aquatics to marketing. It was really a lot of fun. In August of ’95, we moved into the new Student Recreation Center and I was still a part of sport clubs. I received an offer to go to LSU Recreational Sports in 1998. I was with them for a few short years and returned to Texas A&M Rec Sports in 2000 to serve as the assistant to the director. I then was promoted to associate director and placed in charge of sport clubs, intramurals, medics, and a few other things. After a year or so, Dennis and I both knew change was needed, so in 2003 I began working in philanthropy for Rec Sports. That was really my purpose for coming back to Rec Sports; I wanted to really help support the department. There was a lot to be accomplished with the Vice President of Student Affairs, Dean Bresciani, and with the Texas A&M Foundation. Dean was very supportive of fundraising and philanthropy. One of the Foundation's staff members worked directly with Dean, and they invited me to attend numerous events in Houston and cities around Texas. At these events, we would run into many former students and former Rec Sports student employees. After returning from one trip, Dean gave the approval to start a full-time employee position and I received access to the Texas A&M Foundation's former student database. And that is how it all started with me serving as associate director of philanthropy here at Rec Sports.”

2. What has been one of the biggest changes or one of your favorite things at Rec Sports?

“My favorite thing has always been working with students. Holding numerous positions and supervising different programs through the years afforded me the opportunity to engage with many students. When I managed sports clubs, I worked with their leadership team, and when I worked with Intramurals, I trained their officials… I loved that. Now that they are former students, I am able to talk to people that I had an impact on early in my career. It comes full circle. Aggies are amazing in the fact that when they are able, they give back. When any of them have a passion for something, they will donate. There have been times when I get calls from former students that want to donate without me even calling them. They tell me how they would not be the person they are today without their work in Rec Sports. If you find out what people’s passions are and they are willing to support that, you don’t really have to do a lot of asking. This program is anything but ordinary in the fact that they are a family that stays in contact; I will always appreciate that.”

3. Throughout your career, what has been one of the biggest challenges that you have faced?

“I think in any position everything doesn’t always go your way. You would have liked to have been promoted to a specific position or worked on a certain project that did not come your way. I enjoy what I do, so I adjust and move on. I have done just that. From 1978 to about 2011, I was given the opportunity to take vacation and to take the weekends to umpire NCAA Women’s Fast Pitch Softball. It involved a lot of late Saturday nights and early Monday mornings, but I was given the freedom to be able to do this. I was leaving to go somewhere every weekend, whether it was California, Arizona, Florida, or working in Texas. In 2000 and 2001, I had the opportunity to umpire the Women's College World Series. That was really a great experience that I had worked very hard to reach. If I had not been involved in training officials and umpiring, I just would not have had those opportunities.”

4. What has been the most profound or rewarding accomplishments with Rec Sports over the years?

"Early in my career working as a state director through NIRSA was really great for me. But here at Rec Sports, I received the President's Meritorious Service Award and the Randy Matson '67 Association of Former Students Award a few years back. Knowing Randy, I thought it was kind of cool to receive that award. I was really happy to have that happen. I meant a lot that Dennis Corrington supported me in coming back to Rec Sports. I enjoy meeting people. I love to meet former students and see where they are, see graduates come back, and see new students become a part of the department.”

5. Focusing on philanthropy, what is a lesson or piece of advice that you would give to someone working at Rec Sports or someone in your position in the future?

“Listen to the people that you are talking to. Always. If you know of a potential donor or if someone has previously donated, listen. They will usually express to you what their passion is, even if they don’t come out and say it. If it was being in a club with so many other people like themselves or being an employee at the Rec Center and enjoying the company of the people they worked with, then you already know they are wanting to find a way they can give something back. Some of the Sport Clubs do not have the funds needed to acquire new equipment or attend all of the tournaments for which they qualify, but with donations… they just might! I can talk to students and alumni all day long and hear the passions they have, and many of those passions stem from their time here at Rec Sports. Whether students realize it currently or not, they will one day find themselves thinking about how they can give back… and they will. Even if it’s five, ten, or fifteen years down the road.”

6. As you close the doors to this chapter with Rec Sports, what is your biggest goal for the next chapter in your life?

"We are moving to Mississippi; our house is finished. I am very proud of that. I want to enjoy the moments with my wife and family. I want to fish, crab and flounder on the gulf coast. I just want to enjoy this time as I will be reunited with my Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida family. I want to do a little bit of traveling within the United States because there are so many things that I have not seen here in the U.S.

I will miss my Texas A&M Rec Sports family. I know I will stay connected with many former students and staff and look forward to opportunities to visit Aggieland.

Lastly, I have been honored to be selected as a namesake for Fish Camp 2021. I am looking forward to this event. CAMP WELFORD, SESSION B, RED!

Thanks & Gig ’em."